Lighting fixture shade and holder



July 25, 1944.

G. W. BEALS Filed March 16, 1945 I LIGHTING FIXTURE SHADE AND HOLDER INVENTOR C/LL so/v W. BEALS ATTORN EY Patented July 25, 1944 LIGHTING FIXTURE SHADEAND HOLDER Gillson W. Beals, Merlden, Conn., assignor to The Miller Company, Meriden, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application March. 16, 1943, Serial No. 479,331

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to lighting fixture shades and holders, and is more particularly directed toward shades and holders suitable for use in pendent lighting equipment provided with a single incandescent lamp.

It has heretofore been common to provide the necks or heels of glass, plastic and metal fixture shades or reflectors with a suitable outer bead and to support these shades or reflectors by a socket carrying fitter which extends outside the neck of the shade and has bosses or screws which engage the neck of the shade or the outside.

According to the present invention the shade is provided with the apertured neck portion, and the lower face of the neck portion adjacent the aperture is provided with an annular downwardly facing bead. Also the holder is provided with suitable hook carrying fingers which can be bent toward one another so as to pass through the apertured neck of the shade, and these fingers when released expand so as to move their outwardly extending, hook-shaped lower ends under the bead on the shade, whereby the shade may be supported on the ends of the fingers without likelihood of accidental disconnection or separation.

The present invention also contemplates the provision of slidable clips which can .be clamped in position to prevent tilting or rattling of the shade.

Other and further objects will hereinafter appear as the description proceeds.

The accompanying drawing shows, for purposes of illustrating the present invention and embodiment in which the invention may take form, together with modifications of certain parts, it being understood that the drawing is illustrative of the invention rather than limiting the same.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view with parts in elevation showing the combined shade and holder;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the same with parts broken away;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of one of the fingers; and

Figures 4, 5 and 6 are fragmentary modification views.

A round steel mounting plate It] is provided with its usual central opening II for the wires. Three fingers l2, l2, l2 have inwardly bent ends l3 which are welded to the mounting plate [0. Suitable threaded openings l4, l4 to support lamp socket l5 are provided in the fingers and the plate, or in the plate alone. The plate l0 may also be provided with suitable holes or attaching devices for securing conduit fittings, disconnecting devices or the like to it, the same, however, forming no part of the present invention.

The upper portions of the fingers l2 diverge slightly, as indicated in the drawing, and the lower portions are prefer-ably vertical as shown. These fingers may have an arcuate cross section, as indicated in Figure 2, in order to stiffen them. The lower ends l6 of the fingers l2 are hook shaped as indicated. The fingers have vertical slots IT to receive vertically slidable clips I8. These clips are adapted to be clamped in position by binding screws 19. The lower ends 20 of the clips extend outwardly above the hooks [6.

Figures 1 and 2 illustrate the'holder as supporting a glass or plastic shade or reflector 2|. This shade or reflector has a neck portion 22 at the top provided with a central opening 23. The lower face of the neck portion adjacent the opening includes an annular bead 24. Such a bead may be readily formed in the pressing operations employed in making such reflectors and shades whether pressed glass or plastic.

In the form shown in Figure 4 the parts are the same, except that the reflector or shade 25 is a metal shade wherein the bead 26 has the same efiective configuration as the bead 24. In Figure 5 the reflector 21 is provided with a cast bead ring 28 locked in place, while in Figure 6 the cast bead ring 29 is riveted to the reflector 30.

When the shade is to be placed on the holder the clips are moved to an elevated position somewhat as indicated in the dotted line position at the left of Figure 1. The spring fingers l2 are pressed toward one another a sufficient amount to permit passing the open end of the shade up above the level of the hooks. The pressure is then released and the fingers spring out to the normal position, so that the hooks iii are below the annular bead used. These fingers engage the head in such a way that there is no tendency toward camming in the fingers by the weight of the shade. The shade is very securely and readily cradled in these supports. The clips may then be lowered down against the top of the shade so as to keep it from tilting and prevent rattling.

Since it is obvious that the invention may be embodied in other forms and constructions within the scope of the claims, I wish it to be understood that the particular form shown is but one of these forms, and various modifications and changes being possible, I do not otherwise limit myself in any way with respect thereto.

What is claimed is:

1. A lighting fixture comprising a shade having a neck portion at the top provided with a central opening, the lower face of the neck portion adjacent the opening including a downwardly facing annular bead whose outer surfaces extend upwardly and outwardly; and a holder having a top plate, a plurality of downwardly extending yieldable spring fingers secured to the plate, the fingers being bendable toward one another so that they may be passed through the openingin the shade, their ends being hook shaped to fit about the bead, the spring fingers being slotted and each carrying a slidable clip engageable with the top of the neck of the shade.

2. A holder for pendant shades comprising an upper mounting plate, downwardly extending resilient fingers whose upper inwardly bent ends are fastened to the plate, a lamp socket mounted below the plate, the lower ends of the fingers having outwardly and upwardly bent hooked ends, the fingers being slotted above the hooked ends, a slidable clip carried in the slot of each finger, the clips having outwardly extending lower elements adapted to overlie the top of a shade neck whose bottom is supported in the hooks, and binding screws to hold the clips in adjusted positions.

3. A holder such as claimed in claim 2, wherein the fingers are of'arcuate cross section to stiffen them between the hooks and upper bent ends.

GILLSON W. BEALS. 

